This was Fanny's letter.
A careful observer would have seen more of selfish triumph in the gleam that shot across his face, than true love's warm delight.

The glow faded into a look of anxiety as he commenced unfolding the letter, which he read with compressed lips.

A long breath, as if a state of suspense were relieved, followed the perusal.

Then he sat, for some moments, very still, and lost in thought.
"We'll see about that," he murmured at length, laying the letter of Fanny aside, and taking up sundry other letters which had come by the same mail.

For more than an hour these engrossed his attention.
Two of them, one from Mr.Markland, were answered during the time.
"Now, sweetheart," he said, almost lightly, as he took Fanny's letter from the table.